There's been a lot of talk recently about a current NFL player supposedly about to announce he's gay.

Some players and analysts have said that the NFL is ready. Others disagree. Ricky Williams came on campus last night and said there's "no way" a player could exist in an NFL locker room being openly gay. He said the locker room is a very homophobic environment and said he doesn't see a player coming out at all.

I was interested to get all your thoughts on this. Do you think the NFL is ready for it?

Hopefully, for their sake, if this player does come out, I hope it's somebody whose relevant as a player; someone who is respected already in his locker room and by the fan base.

The locker room setting might be considered "homophobic" in that guys will make all sorts of ignorant jokes by using slurs for people who are gay, but I can't imagine how if someone on any team came out it being a problem. You are involved as a team and you look out for one another. And if one has a problem with it then there will be others to defend it. Philbin also seems like the type of guy that wouldn't put up with one drop of Bullcrap from players if they were harping on another for their sexuality, religion, etc.

I think the NFL is more ready for it than others think. There are some strong gay right activists already in the league and I am sure there are tons more players who would be willing to speak up for it if asked about it.

I hope the NFL is ready. I hope society is ready. Every family member probaby has a gay relative or loved one. If they dont they just do not know it. Judging / critisizing / discriminating / hateing on someone for that reason is just wrong in these times (or any). This topic was recently addressed on Necessary Roughness.

I think the media will make a big deal of it, but I don't think any locker room will give two sh*ts about it if the team is winning and the guy is contributing. Many players in every locker room do things that the other guys don't agree with, and I don't think this would be any different.

*sigh* What a distraction from what is really important... the game on the field.

None of this should matter.

I agree. Unfortunately it is/going to be a huge deal.

But what you said is why I wouldn't sign/draft a player who I know is gay. I don't want to be the first to take the plunge. Not worth it.

I know some gay people who use homophobic slurs as jokes and try to keep it lighthearted...sort of in the sense of being macho versus gentle. And yeah, most of them were athletes. I think if it stays in that realm it shouldn't be a locker room issue. When it grows into a bullying scenario it would be a major issue.

If the person coming out tries to make it an all about him situation then I agree it is a distraction that probably won't be tolerated in the locker room. If he plays it as, "yeah I'm gay, its accepted and I'm not ashamed. Next question," then guys might rally around him being himself and being a team first person.

I think the media will make a big deal of it, but I don't think any locker room will give two sh*ts about it if the team is winning and the guy is contributing. Many players in every locker room do things that the other guys don't agree with, and I don't think this would be any different.

I don't think an NFL team would have a problem with someone coming out. But I do think an NFL team will resent the hell out of being forced under the magnifying glass of the national media. The constant questions and attention this issue will bring will be a major distraction. I think the team members and fan base will resent the distraction this circus will become and will wonder how it affects the teams ability to concentrate on winning after every loss. And they will resent the player that came out and brought all this attention and distraction to them. They won't resent him because he is gay they will resent him because he brought a big distraction to their goal of winning football games to push some personal agenda.

Being a gay guy in a locker room full of naked dudes is like one of us being in a locker room full of naked girls. It will be hard (no pun intended) to get naked in front of him, awkward.

That's such a stereotypical male point of view. Let's look at it: You've compared it to being in a locker room full of naked girls, implying that they guy would be oogling them and such. If that guy were in a locker room full of naked women he didn't find attractive, it wouldn't be a problem. Why do we (as straight men) automatically assume that every gay guy finds EVERY man attractive? We (again, as straight men) don't find EVERY woman attractive, why is the assumption different for them?

The Ravens also made a decision to release linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo on Wednesday. The moves have been necessitated by the new contract given to quarterback Joe Flacco and trying to get their financial commitments under the salary cap.

However, Ayanbadejo thinks the reason for his release may not be that simple. Ayanbadejo and Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe have been incredibly outspoken supporters of gay rights. According to Tom Rock of Newsday, Ayanbadejo believes his activism for gay rights also was a factor in the team’s decision to release him.

You've compared it to being in a locker room full of naked girls, implying that they guy would be oogling them and such. If that guy were in a locker room full of naked women he didn't find attractive, it wouldn't be a problem.

I would bet that every guy in the world would find at least 1 cheerleader naked hot. Just like a woman or a gay guy would find a naked football player hot. Say what you want, I wouldn't want to be naked in front of a gay guy.

You've compared it to being in a locker room full of naked girls, implying that they guy would be oogling them and such. If that guy were in a locker room full of naked women he didn't find attractive, it wouldn't be a problem.

I would bet that every guy in the world would find at least 1 cheerleader naked hot. Just like a woman or a gay guy would find a naked football player hot. Say what you want, I wouldn't want to be naked in front of a gay guy.

For one, you did not specify "cheerleaders". Just because it's a locker room does not mean that it's a locker room of attractive people. Second, you can't assume that just because he's gay that he's going to be attracted to someone in the locker room.

The Ravens also made a decision to release linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo on Wednesday. The moves have been necessitated by the new contract given to quarterback Joe Flacco and trying to get their financial commitments under the salary cap.

However, Ayanbadejo thinks the reason for his release may not be that simple. Ayanbadejo and Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe have been incredibly outspoken supporters of gay rights. According to Tom Rock of Newsday, Ayanbadejo believes his activism for gay rights also was a factor in the team’s decision to release him.

You've compared it to being in a locker room full of naked girls, implying that they guy would be oogling them and such. If that guy were in a locker room full of naked women he didn't find attractive, it wouldn't be a problem.

I would bet that every guy in the world would find at least 1 cheerleader naked hot. Just like a woman or a gay guy would find a naked football player hot. Say what you want, I wouldn't want to be naked in front of a gay guy.

For one, you did not specify "cheerleaders". Just because it's a locker room does not mean that it's a locker room of attractive people. Second, you can't assume that just because he's gay that he's going to be attracted to someone in the locker room.

Lets be realistic here. Will he find every guy in the locker room attractive? Of course not. But we're not talking about showering at the YMCA with a bunch of tubby insurance salesmen. I'm sure he'll find a few guys he finds attractive.

Simple solution. If you feel uncomfortable that a gay guy is checking out your twig and berries then just shower when he's not in there.

For one, you did not specify "cheerleaders". Just because it's a locker room does not mean that it's a locker room of attractive people. Second, you can't assume that just because he's gay that he's going to be attracted to someone in the locker room.

SOrry, I should have been more specific. Football players are good looking guys which is what a gay guy is attracted to just like we are attracted to good looking women. We have our opinions and maybe you are more "tolerent" than I am. Anyway, go Phins.

Recently, free-agent linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo has been backpedaling more than a cornerback.

After suggesting this his support for same-sex marriage was a factor in his release by the Ravens, Ayanbadejo quickly said it wasn’t. Now, not long after explaining that four gay players are considering coming out at the same time, Ayanbadejo says they aren’t.